Articulating paper apparatus



March 31, 1964 E. D. MCCARTHY ETAL 3,125,631

- ARTICULATING PAPER APPARATUS Filed May 19. 1960 /0 9 A INVENTORS.

545.4 Q m BY KENNETH T M M A TTK United States Patent 3,126,631 ARTICULATING PAPER APPARATUS Earl D. McCarthy, W. 720 Boone Ave., and Kenneth E. McVey, 1160 Paulsen Bldg., both of Spokane 1, Wash. Filed May 19, 1960, Ser. No. 30,246 3 Claims. (Cl. 32-19) This invention relates to a novel articulating paper apparatus for use in the practice of dentistry.

Articulating paper is widely used by the dental profession to test occlusion of natural teeth and also to check antificial teeth in the patients mouth or in the laboratory. The paper has carbon on both sides and is placed between the teeth being tested. Due to the carbon, the paper often leaves marks on the patients face and lips and on the dentists hands. In order to prevent this undesirable trait and facilitate handling of the paper, the present invention contemplates the addition of a handle to the paper.

It is an object of this invention to provide an articulating paper apparatus which includes a longitudinal bend in the paper to provide stiffness. This stiffness tends to aid in the insertion of the paper.

It is another object to provide a handle on the paper which will not interfere with efficient storage of the paper and which will aid in the normal handling of the paper.

These and further objects will be evident from the following description and the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. This form is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit or restrict the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of an articulating paper and handle made according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top View of the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

The invention shown relates to a new form of articulating paper. Articulating paper is a common disposable dental supply consisting of a plain sheet of carbon paper about three-fourths of an inch wide and two or three inches long. Such paper has carbon on both sides thereof. The paper 9 shown in the drawings is made of this same material and has dimensions of three-fourths inch by two and one-half inches. It is also bent longitudinally to lend stillness to the paper.

A wooden stick 10 is shown attached to paper 9. Stick 10 is about 2 inches long and one-sixteenth inch in diameter and is slit at its end adjacent paper 9. The paper 9 is inserted in this slot and is firmly attached to the stick 10 by means of dental wax or any convenient adhesive. Stick 10 provides a handle for the apparatus.

3,126,631 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 It is set at an angle to the paper 9 so as to be more convenient when the paper 9 is being inserted into the mouth of a patient.

The paper 9 is used to test the height of new and old dental restorations when the teeth of the upper and lower arches are in centric, lateral or protrusive occlusion. It is also useful in checking occlusal problems during occlusal equilibration of natural teeth. It can be used to test occlusion of artificial teeth within the patients mouth. It is extremely useful to dentists and technicians during laboratory preparation of artificial teeth, crowns and bridges. It can also be used for the testing of occlusion on study models.

The apparatus of the present invention improves upon plain articulating paper by providing a stiff article which can easily be inserted where desired. It requires only one hand to place the paper. There is no danger of staining the hands of the dentist or technician with carbon, nor will the face and lips of the patient be touched by the well-controlled paper. It is more sanitary than plain paper and provides more accurate placement of the paper. Furthermore, it can easily be stored for use. The angular displacement of the handle 10 prevents it from interferring with the normal use of the paper 9.

The various sizes described are only average. They may be varied in length and gauge depending upon the intended use of the apparatus. The invention is not to be limited by this disclosure, except as it is defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An articulating paper apparatus comprising a rectangular piece of heavy gauge paper having a carbon surface on both sides thereof, said paper being formed with a longitudinal bend to provide stiffness, and a handle secured to one end of said paper.

2. An articulating paper apparatus comprising a rectangular piece of heavy gauge paper having a coating of carbon on each of its surfaces, said paper being bent along its length to provide stiffness, a handle secured to one end of the paper comprising a cylindrical wooden stick having a slot at one end adapted to receive said paper, and adhesive means securing said paper within said slot.

3. The invention as described in claim 2 wherein the axis of said handle is offset angularly from the longitudinal center line of said paper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,884 Miller Dec. 21, 1909 1,458,062 Keith June 5, 1923 2,277,667 Rogers Mar. 31, 1942 2,737,959 Soldan Mar. 13, 1956 

1. AN ARTICULATING PAPER APPARATUS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR PIECE OF HEAVY GAUGE PAPER HAVING A CARBON SURFACE ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF, SAID PAPER BEING FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINAL BEND TO PROVIDE STIFFNESS, AND A HANDLE SECURED TO ONE END OF SAID PAPER. 